Lawyers like to benchmark. After all, we frequently rely on precedent when we make decisions. Of course, at its simplest, precedent (like benchmarking) merely compares what someone did previously to help decide what we do today. Many law departments use this technique to see how they stand relative to their peers and recognized leaders in… Continue Reading
Tag Archives: law department management
Four Family Members and Two TVs: Should I Benchmark Us?
Posted in ACC Docket(March/2013) I had a conversation recently with a co-worker. We were discussing Super Bowl Sunday and the fact that I watched “Downton Abbey” in the middle of the game. As much as I love watching American football, “Downton Abbey” trumps any game. I mentioned to my co-worker that we only have two televisions in our… Continue Reading
A [Value] Challenge for 2013: Throw Your Hat Over the Wall
Posted in Client-Firm Value, In-House PracticeWe have all seen the articles, attended the conferences or engaged in conversations that express dissatisfaction with law firm billing, the continued growth of legal costs generally, and the disconnect between cost and value received. I have heard these complaints since I first became involved with ACC over 21 years ago. Unfortunately, I think it… Continue Reading
Tell Me More About Yourself
Posted in ACC Docket(March 2012) Most of the managers I know do not enjoy interviewing job candidates. It’s not that we don’t want you to have the job; however, it is often difficult to dig deep enough during an interview. Old school interview questions aren’t much help, and I admit that I have asked more than one candidate… Continue Reading
Uncovered: HP’s In-house Counsel Training Program Part I
Posted in ACC Value ChallengeThe latest addition to our “value practice” blog series features a timely and provocative four-part discussion on training legal talent, all focusing on different aspects of Hewlett-Packard Company’s innovative new legal talent development project. This series will provide an in-depth look into HP’s post-law school training for new lawyers, with entries on how HP… Continue Reading
ACC Fred Krebs Talks about Leadership
Posted in Pro BonoTwo ACC leaders were recently honored with top legal industry awards: ACC’s former board chair, Laura Stein, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, The Clorox Company, is a 2010 recipient of the Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award, established by the ABA to recognize the accomplishments of women lawyers. In Canada, ACC board member,… Continue Reading
EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP: I’LL KNOW IT WHEN I SEE IT
Posted in Annual Meeting 2009, In-House Practice, LeadershipLeadership, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. Sure there are plenty of definitions and many a book has been written and speech given on the subject, but when you ask people, what leadership means to them, you’ll get an assortment of responses. A recent quick poll of lawyers and others in the… Continue Reading
Annual Meeting Program Ideas
Posted in In-House PracticeBelow is a guest post from the Law Department Management Committee’s Program Chair, Richard Bates. Fellow ACC Law Department Management Members, as you know this is the time of year all ACC committees devote to idea generation for Annual Meeting programs. Attached are suggestions to date. However, we need your input for more program… Continue Reading